Sutera plant named ‘Balmecpim24’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Sutera  plant named ‘Balmecpim24’, characterized by its pale purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and a mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination: ‘Balmecpim24’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant botanically known as Sutera cordata and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balmecpim24’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during April 2019. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Sutera cultivars that have large-sized flowersand a mounded-trailing growth habit suitable for hanging basket, andcontainer use.

The new Sutera cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is Versa Pink Shine ‘Balverpine’, notpatented, characterized by its medium pink-colored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and semi-upright growth habit.The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Suteracordata breeding selection coded SUT-1547-001, not patented,characterized by its dark hot pink colored flowers, dark green-coloredfoliage, low growth vigor, and mounded-trailing growth habit. The newcultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny ofthe above stated cross-pollination during December 2019 in a controlledenvironment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceDecember 2019 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balmecpim24’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Sutera plant:

-   -   1. Pale purple-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage;    -   3. Low growth vigor; and    -   4. Mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having slightly different shade of flower color and a moretrailing growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants ofthe male parent primarily in having a larger diameter corolla, lightercolored flowers, and more branches per plant.

Of the many commercially available Sutera cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is MegaCopa Pink Shine ‘Balmecopine’, notpatented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Balmecopine’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a slightly darker flower        color than plants of ‘Balmecopine’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar has more branches per plant than        plants of ‘Balmecopine’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balmecpim24’. The plants were approximately 16-weeks old. The plantswere grown in 4.5-inch containers for approximately 11 weeks in agreenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch attransplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balmecpim24’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balmecpim24’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in February 2023 undernatural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately16-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina polycarbonate greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in4.5-inch containers for approximately 11 weeks utilizing a soillessgrowth medium. Plants were one pinch at transplant. Greenhousetemperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 70° F. (20° C.to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (16° C. to18° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘Balmecpim24’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Versa Pink Shine ‘Balverpine’, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection            coded SUT-1547-001, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low growth vigor,            mounded-trailing growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 7.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching increases basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 6.        -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, slightly flexible. Length:            Approximately 17.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 2.0 cm. Texture:            Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of young stems:144A. Color of mature stems: 146B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 16. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to perpendicular to stem. Shape:            Ovate. Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:            Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            1.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent on venation            only. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage:            137A with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface            of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation            of 146D to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width: Approximately            1.5 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balmecpim24’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from early spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            6 to 9 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 45. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 16.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: 84D.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Length            from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately            9.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, with sparsely            pubescent base. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of            upper surface when first open: N75B with an overlay of N78B            at base. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            76C. Color of upper surface when fully open: N75B to N75D.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely            pubescent at throat opening. Texture of outer surface:            Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with N25A and            21A at throat opening. Color of outer surface: NN155D with            an underlay of N25A and 21A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 4.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately            7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper            (inner) surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Texture of            lower (outer) surface: Densely pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper and lower surfaces:            137A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of            glandular and non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,            didynamous, base adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length of            longer pair: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stamen length of shorter            pair: Approximately 7.0 mm. Filament length of fixed            portion: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D.            Anther shape: Obovate. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther color: 13C and NN155D at base. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma            shape: Linear slightly arched, rounded apex. Stigma length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145B. Style length:            Approximately 8.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Sutera has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named‘Balmecpim24’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.